On Tuesday 12 December, representatives of the European Parliament and the Spanish Presidency of the EU Council reached a provisional political agreement on rules aimed at strengthening bodies for the protection of equal treatment in the Member States (see EUROPE 13233/10).
The future rules, which will come into force two years after their adoption, introduce minimum standards which, among other things, increase the powers of these national bodies in the fight against gender-based discrimination in the world of work (see EUROPE 13288/22).
The national bodies, which must have sufficient financial and human resources, will be empowered to carry out investigations and initiate dispute resolution procedures on behalf of people who consider themselves to be victims of discrimination based on sex, in accordance with the national law in force.
Where a body is part of a national ministry, special rules will need to be put in place to ensure its independence, particularly in terms of governance, accountability, staffing and management of financial resources.
The agreement reached gives equality bodies “the competences, independence and resources” they need to challenge acts of discrimination and support victims, according to the Spanish Minister for Equality, Ana Redondo. (Original version in French by Mathieu Bion)